Area: |
65,610 sq km |
Population: |
19.252 million (2003) |
Capital City: |
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte (designated in 1977) |
People: |
74% Sinhalese, 12,6% Sri Lanka Tamils, 5,5% Indian Tamils and 7% Muslims |
Language: |
Sinhala, Tamil, (official Languages), English is widely used |
Religion: |
69% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Muslim, 8% Christian |
Government: |
Democracy |
President: |
Mahinda Rajapakse |
Prime Minister: |
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake |
Click here for an interactive map of Colombo!
Geography
From sea level to 7000-foot high national parks, the country boasts of myriad geographical and climatic zones. From the coconut palm fringed beaches of the west coast to lush rainforests of Ratnapura (2 hours from Colombo) to the stunning mountain scenery of Haputale (5 hours from Colombo) to the arid, scrub jungles of Yala (7 hours from Colombo) - a traveller in the country will never bore of the constantly changing patterns of the countryside. It is easy to imagine, when travelling across Sri Lanka, why Marco Polo called it the finest island of its size in the world.
Weather
The weather is tropical - bright and hot for most part. Rains come in two main monsoons that originate in the Indian Ocean. The country has specific climatic zones determined by ranges of high mountains that run in north-south direction in the center of the island. The larger geographical area, fed by the north-east monsoon stays hot and dry for long months of the year, while the west and parts of the south of Sri Lanka has a primarily wet and humid climate.
The country is five and half hours ahead of GMT. (+05.30 GMT)
Holidays
In addition to Saturday and Sunday, the full moon day (Poya Day) of each month is a holiday in Sri Lanka. On Poya Days all places of entertainment are closed.
Find out more about Sri Lanka
Language
Sri Lanka has a diversity of ethnic groups. Languages spoken in the country vary. The two major native languages are Sinhala spoken by the Sinhalese majority and Tamil language used by the Tamils. Although, Sinhala and Tamil are languages from different source, both share some common characteristics and obviously have influence on each other's linguistic evolution as well. English is widely spoken but it may be useful to learn some phrases in Sinhala if visiting the country for business or pleasure.
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Useful Sinhala Phrases
Pronunciation
a : as the ‘u' in ‘cup'
aa : like the ‘a' in ‘father'
e : the ‘e' in ‘met'
i : the ‘i' in bit
o : the ‘o' in ‘hot'
u : the ‘u' in put
ai : as the word ‘eye'
au : like the ‘ow' in ‘how'
Basics
Hello : hello
Bye: aayu-bowan
Yes: owu
No: naeh
Please: karuna kara
Thank you: stuh-tee
Excuse me: sama venna
Sorry: kana gaatui
How much is it?: ehekka keeyada?
What's your name?: oyaaghe nama mokka'da?
My name is..: maaghe nama…
Getting Around
When does the next …leave/arrive?: meelanga…pitat venne/peminenne?
Boat: bohtuwa
Bus: bas eka
Train: koh-chiya
Plane: plane eka
I'd like a one way ticket: mata tani gaman tikat ekek ganna ohna
I'd like a return ticket: mata yam-eem tikat ekek ganna ohna
Train station: dumriya pala
Ferry terminal: totu pala
Where is the…?: ….koheda?
Turn left/right: wamata/dakunata herenna
Far: durai
Near: lan-ghai
Around Town
Bank: benkuwa
Pharmacy/Chemist: faamisiya
My hotel: mang inna hotalaya
Market: maakat eka
Post office: tepal kantohruwa
Useful Words
Big: loku
Small: podi, punchi
Help!: aaneh!/aayoh!/amboh!
Go away!: metanin yanna!
I'm lost: mang ivarai/mang vinaasai
Food
Bread: paan
Butter: batah
Coffee: koh-pi
Tea: te-eh
Sugar: seeni
Water: watura
Fruit: palaturu
Numbers
1: eka
2: deka
3: tuna
4: hatara
5: paha
6: haya
7: hata
8: a-teh
9: navaya
10: dahaya |
Useful Tamil Phrases
Pronunciation
a: as the in ‘u' in ‘cup'
aa: as in the ‘a' in ‘father'
e: the ‘e' in ‘met'
i: the ‘i' in ‘bit'
o: the ‘o' in ‘hot'
u: the ‘u' in ‘put'
ai: like ‘eye'
au: like the ‘ow' in ‘how'
dh: the ‘th' in ‘then'
g: as in ‘go'
s: like ‘sit'
th: like the ‘th' of ‘thin'
Basics
Hello: vanakkam
Goodbye: poytu varukirehn
Yes: aam
No: il-lay
Please: tayavura saydhih
Thank you: nandri
Excuse me: mannikavum
Sorry: mannikavum
How much is it?: ahdu evvalah-vur?
My name is..: en pay-yehr…
Getting Around
What time does the…leave/arrive?: eppohlidur arutur…sellum/vahrum?
Boat: padadur
Bus: baas
Train: rayill
I'd like a one way/return ticket: enakka oru/iru vahlay ticket vaynum
Where is it?: un-ghe irukkaradhur?
Where is..?: …un-ghe?
Turn leftright: valadhur/ itadhur pakkam tirumbavum
Around Town
Bank: vanghee
Pharmacy/Chemist: marunduh kadhai-karehr
My hotel: en udehr hotehl
Market: maarket
Post office: tavaal nliayem
Food
Bread: rotti
Butter: van-nay
Coffee: kahpee
Tea: the-neer
Sugar: seeree
Water: neer
Milk: paal
Numbers
1: ondru
2: iranduh
3: muundruh
4: naan-guh
5: ainduh
6: aaruh
7: ulluh
8: uttu
9: onbaduh
10: pat-tuh
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